Introduction

This section
deal with those gallantry medals that were won during the two world wars:
1914-18 and 1939-45 and subsequent conflicts.

The civilian
gallantry medals are also covered by pages included in this section. Whilst
primarily intended to award gallantry by non-military personnel, they
can be awarded to military personnel where no pure-military equivalent
award is applicable.

Civilian
Bravery

Until the
establishment of the government's own gallantry awards for saving life,
it was left entirely to private individuals and companies to provide their
own recognition to those people who risked their own life to save other
people. The first Government issued award to commemorate people who risked
their life to save others was the Sea Gallantry (Foreign Services) Medal
in 1841. This was followed by the Sea Gallantry Medal in 1854 and the
Albert Medal in 1866.

The following
table shows the currently existing civilian gallantry awards, in their
order of precedence.

George
Cross

George
Medal

Queen's
Police Medal (only awarded to Police Officers)

Queen's
Fire Service Medal (only awarded to Fire Service Officers)

Queen's
Gallantry Medal

Sea Gallantry
Medal

The George
Cross, George Medal and Queen's Gallantry Medal can be awarded to military
personnel when the acts of gallantry fall outside the warrant for a military
gallantry award.

The following
table illustrates the relationship between the military gallantry awards
and their civilian equivalent. However, it should be noted that military
personnel can be awarded the civilian equivalent if their act falls outside
the warrant for the relevant military award.

Military
Award

Civilian
Award

Victoria
Cross

George
Cross

Conspicuous
Gallantry Cross

George
Medal

Distinguished
Service Cross

Military
Cross

Distinguished
Flying Cross

Queen's
Gallantry Medal

-

Allied Subjects' Medal

-

King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom

-

King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom

Sea Gallantry Medal

Sea Gallantry Medal

Mentioned-in-Despatches

Queen's
Commendation for Valuable Service

Queen's
Commendation for Bravery

Queen's
Commendation for Bravery in the Air

Allied Subjects' Medal

In November 1920, it was decided that deeds such as assisting escaped British POWs, would be recognised by the award of a medal. This 36-mm diameter silver or bronze medal, was suspended from a red ribbon; the ribbon has a blue centre with stripes of yellow, black and white on either side of this central stripe (the French and Belgian national colours). The obverse side has the effigy of King George V. The reverse side has the female figure of humanity offering a resting soldier a cup.

A total of 56 silver and 247 bronze medals were issued in the period 1920 to 1922.

King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom

On 23 August 1945 the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom was introduced. This 36-mm diameter silver medal was introduced to recognise the acts of courage performed by foreign civilians or military personnel, in the furtherance of the British and Commonwealth cause during World War Two.

The obverse side has an effigy of King George VI, whilst the reversie side has the text "King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom". The ribbon is white with two narrow blue stripes in the centre and wide red stripes along each edge.

Altogether 3200 medals were issued.

King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom

The King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedomwas introduced on 23 August 1945. Whereas the "King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom" was intended to recognise acts of gallantry, this medal was intended to recognise less hazardous activities such as fund-raising for the Allied cause.

This 36-mm silver medal was worn from a white ribbon, that had a central red stripe flanked by blue stripes. The obverse side had an effigy of King George VI, with the reverse side displayed a medival warrior receiving norishment.

Altogether 2490 medals were issued.

Military
Gallantry Awards

The following
table list the military gallantry medals for each service. These are the
entitlements that applied during the two world wars and up to 1993.

NAVY

NAVY

ARMY

ARMY

RAF
(Oper)

RAF
(Oper)

RAF
(Non Oper)

RAF
(Non Oper)

Officer

Other
Ranks

Officer

Other
Ranks

Officer

Other
Ranks

Officer

Other
Ranks

VC

VC

VC

VC

VC

VC

-

-

DSO

CGM
(Navy)

DSO

DCM

DSO

CGM
(RAF)

AFC

AFM

DSC

DSM

MC

MM

DFC

DFM

-

-

MID

MID

MID

MID

MID

MID

-

-

The Royal
Air Force was created as a separate service on 1 April 1918. Before this
date, air force personnel were either members of the Royal Flying Corps
RFC (part of the Army and eligible for Army awards) or the Royal Naval
Air Service RNAS (part of the Royal Navy and eligible for Navy awards).

It was possible
for personnel from one service to win a gallantry medal from another service.
For example, an Army soldier who was serving abroad a Royal Navy ship
could win a Royal Navy award. This situation occurred with the posthumous
award of a CGM (Navy) to Staff Sergeant James Prescott, Corps of Royal
Engineers.

On 22nd May
1982 Staff Sergeant Prescott under the command of another NCO of 49 Engineer
Explosives Disposal Squadron Royal Engineers were carrying out explosive
ordnance disposal duties in the Falkland Islands. They were tasked to
deal with an unexploded bomb in the boiler room of HMS ARGONAUT. Another
unexploded bomb lay in a flooded missile magazine nearby. Working in extraordinarily
cramped conditions and in very unfamiliar surroundings Staff Sergeant
Prescott and the other NCO successfully remotely rendered safe the bomb
which was later removed from the ship. This action enabled the damage
to the boiler room to be repaired, so that HMS ARGONAUT regained propulsion
and was able to manoeuvre defensively in further air attacks.

On 23rd May
1982 Staff Sergeant Prescott and the NCO were tasked to neutralise two
unexploded bombs in HMS ANTELOPE. The first bomb examined could not be
approached until extensive clearance of debris had taken place. They therefore
set about rendering safe the second bomb which was situated near the centre
of the ship. The bomb had been slightly damaged and was assessed as being
in a dangerous condition. They tried three times to render the bomb safe
using a remote method, having to approach the bomb after each attempt
to adjust the equipment, but on each occasion, the fuse could not be withdrawn.
After a fourth attempt, which involved using a small charge, the bomb
unexpectedly exploded. The blast was considerable. Despite a blast route
of open doors and hatches up through the ship, the fully clipped steel
door at the forward end of the passageway, where the bomb disposal team
was standing, was completely blow off and nearly bent double. Staff Sergeant
Prescott died instantly.

In 1993,
the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) was introduced. This medal replaces
the DSO (when awarded for gallantry), the DCM, CGM (Navy) and CGM (RAF).
The intension was to remove the distinction between officer and other
ranks; concentrating on the act of gallantry performed without regard
to the recipient's rank (which has always been the case with the Victoria
Cross).

Also following
the 1993 review, the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Military Medal
(MM), Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) and Air Force Medal (AFM) have
all been discontinued.

The 1993
UK military gallantry award system is reflected in the following table.

NAVY

ARMY

RAF
(Oper)

RAF
(Non Operational)

All
Ranks

All
Ranks

All
Ranks

All
Ranks

VC

VC

VC

-

CGC*

CGC*

CGC*

AFC

DSC

MC

DFC

-

MID

MID

MID

-

*The
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) can be awarded for "Leadership
Qualities" by all ranks. It is not awarded posthumously.

Once a service
person has won an award, and they went on to perform another act of bravery
they could be award the same medal again. For the second and any subsequent
award of the same medal, they would receive a bar to wear across the ribbon
of the first gallantry medal. For example, if a soldier had a CGC and
Bar, he had won 'two' CGCs and would wear a metal bar across the ribbon
of his first CGC.

All awards
of these medals are published in the London Gazette. Large reference libraries,
such as The Guildhall Library, City of London, have copies of the London
Gazette newspaper on microfilm. You would need to consult the index to
locate the relevant microfilm roll. Some of these awards list just the
recipient's service details (number, rank, name, unit). Other entries
have citations which provide details about the acts performed.

The Mention-in-Despatches
(MID) was awarded for acts which were judged of sufficient merit to be
officially mentioned in the despatches sent by the officer, commanding
a theatre of operation, back to the War Office in London. The War Office
is the forerunner of the current UK Ministry of Defence.

The MID is
a gallantry award. It is now the longest continuous British gallantry
award for military personnel, and can be awarded posthumously (as it was
in the Sierra Leone operation to Bombardier Brad Tinnion).

Distinguished
Service Order (DSO)

The Distinguished
Service Order (DSO) was instituted in 1886. Following various 19th Century
campaigns, it was realised that no adequate award for distinguished service
was available to junior officers apart from the VC and, in the case of
Majors and above, the CB. Since 1886 the basic design has remained the
same apart from the obverse central crown and the reverse royal cypher,
which changes with each sovereign. It is not awarded to civilians, although
officers of the Merchant Navy can qualify during time of war. The DSO
is open to junior officers of all three services.

Following
the 1993 review this medal is now awarded for leadership services; its
gallantry purpose now being in the remit of the Conspicuous Gallantry
Cross (CGC). The DSO is now open to all ranks and as with other orders
it can't be awarded posthumously.

Conspicuous
Gallantry Cross (CGC)

The CGC is
a cross (maximum width of 36 millimetres) imposed on a wreath of laurel,
with the royal crown in a circular panel in the centre. The medal is suspended
from a white (with blue edges and red centre stripe) ribbon.

The first
recipient of the CGC was in 1995. It was awarded to Corporal Wayne Mills
(Duke of Wellington's Regiment) for gallantry in Bosnia while serving
with the UN Peacekeeping Force.

The CGC resulted
from the 1993 review of gallantry medals below the Victoria Cross. It
was decided to remove the factor of a recipient's rank influencing the
medal awarded. To this end, the CGC replaced the DSO (when awarded for
gallantry), the DCM and both types of CGM (Naval and RAF).

Royal Navy
(RN) Medals

This section
describes the gallantry medals which are applicable to the Royal Navy,
including the Royal Marines. These are the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
(CGM), Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Distinguished Service Medal
(DSM).

Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal (CGM)

The CGM was
instituted in 1855 as a reward for gallantry for the Royal Navy. The first
issues was made to recipients for gallantry in the Baltic and Crimea.
After a lull of some 18 years, the medal was re-instituted in 1874 with
a batch of awards for Ashantee. From this date the medal was issued with
the following obverses: Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI.
About 50 of the second Victoria issue were awarded, with 2 Edward VII
medals, 110 George V issues, and 72 George VI issues. There is only one
instance of someone winning a bar to his CGM.

In 1943 the
CGM was extended to the RAF to recognise gallantry whilst flying in operations
against the enemy. A total of 103 RAF CGMs were awarded during World War
Two.

From 1901,
nearly all CGMs have citations in the London Gazette.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry
Cross.

Distinguished
Service Cross (DSC)

Instituted
in June 1901 as reward for Warrant and Subordinate officers of the Royal
Navy. In October 1914, the rules on eligibility were changed to so that
all officers were eligible for the DSC. In 1931 the Merchant Navy officers
were eligible in certain situations. From 1940, the year of its award
is engraved on the lower part of the cross.

During World
War One approximately 1700 DSCs were awarded, with about 90 first bars
and 10 second bars. In World War Two, approximately 4500 DSCs were awarded,
with 430 first and 44 second bars. One medal was issued with three bars;
the equivalent of being awarded the DSC four times.

Since 1993,
this medal can be awarded to all qualifying Royal Navy ranks.

Distinguished
Service Medal (DSM)

Instituted
in October 1914 to supplement the CGM, and was to be awarded for act of
bravery which were deemed not sufficient for the award of the CGM.During
World War Two, eligibility was extended to Army and RAF personnel serving
on board ship, and to the Merchant and Dominion Navies.

All DSMs
are issued named to the recipient, the details are impressed (World War
I), engraved or impressed (World War II) around the medal's rim.4,100
DSMs were issued during World War I, with 67 first bars and 2 second bars.
In World War II, approximately 7,100 DSMs were issued, with 152 first
bars and 3 second bars. One DSM was issued with 3 bars. About 50 DSMs
were issued, during World War II, to the Maritime Royal Artillery, and
23 to the RAF.

Although
awards are just listed in the London Gazette, with no citations, a complete
list of all recipients has been produced by W.H. Fevyer and published
by J.B. Hayward and Son in two volumes.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Distinguished Service
Cross, which is now available to all ranks.

British
Army Medals

This section
describes the gallantry medals which are applicable to the Army. These
are the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), Military Cross (MC) and Military
Medal (MM). Since the 1993 review, only the MC is still applicable.

Distinguished
Conduct Medal (DCM)

The DCM was
instituted in 1854 to recognise "distinguished, gallant and good
conduct" by troops in the Crimea. All DCMs are issued named to the
recipient, usually with impressed details around the medal's rim.

Nearly 25,000
DCMs were issued during World War I, compared to 1,900 for acts during
World War II. The majority of World War I DCMs have citations in the London
Gazette. Since 1939, DCMs are listed in the London Gazette but don't have
citations.

Full details
of DCMs awarded up to 1914 can be found in the book "The Distinguished
Conduct Medal" by P.E. Abbott, published by J.B. Hayward & Son.
DCMs awarded during World War I can be found in a similar publication
by R.W. Walker, but no citations are provided.

Contrary
to what may be implied by the term "Distinguished Conduct ..."
it should be remembered that this medal was, for NCOs and other ranks,
second only to the Victoria Cross.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry
Cross.

Military
Cross (MC)

The MC was
instituted in December 1914 as a reward for gallantry for officers of
the rank of Captain or below, and for Warrant Officers. Officers over
the rank of Captain (Major and above) were eligible for the DSO. From
1940, the date of the award is engraved on the lower part of the cross.

In World
War I there were 37,000 MCs awarded, with 3000 first bars, 170 second
bars and 4 third bars. During World War II, approximately 10,000 MCs were
awarded and 500 first bars.

All awards
of the MC are listed in the London Gazette. Citations exist for the First
World War awards.

Since 1993,
this medal can be awarded to all qualifying Army ranks.

Military
Medal (MM)

The MM was
instituted in March 1916 as an award for non-officer rank of the Army
for acts of bravery. In the First World War the MM was awarded to a few
recipients from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Some RAF personnel
were awarded the MM during World War II. All MMs are issued named with
the recipient's details impressed around the medal's rim.

During World
War I, 115,000 MMs were awarded, with 5,800 first bars and 180 second
bars. There was 1 award of the MM and 3 bars. World War II saw the award
of 15,000 MMs with 164 first bars and 2 second bars.

Although
all MMs awarded are listed in the London Gazette, the First World War
MMs don't have citations. The Second World War MMs generally do have citations.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Military Cross, which
is now available to all ranks.

Royal Air
Force (RAF) Medals

This section
describes the gallantry medals which are applicable to the Royal Air Force.
These are the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM), Distinguished Flying
Cross (DFC) and Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM). These medal are only
awarded for bravery in operational flying. The Air Force Cross (AFC) and
Air Force Medal (AFM) were awarded for bravery in non-operational flying.

The Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal for the Royal Air Force is identical to the Royal Navy
CGM, except the colour of the ribbon worn with the medal.

Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC)

The DFC was
instituted in 1918 as an award to officers and warrant officers who displayed
courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations.

During World
War I, a total of approximately 1,100 DFCs were awarded, with 70
first bars and 3 second bars. During World War II, approximately 20,000
DFCs were awarded (the most of any award), with approximately 1,500 first
bars and 42 second bars. Second World War DFCs have the year of issue
engraved on the reverse of the bottom section of the cross.

Citations
are generally available in the London Gazette for the Second World War
DFCs. Some of the First World War DFCs also have citations.

Since 1993,
this medal can be awarded to all qualifying RAF ranks.

Air Force
Cross (AFC)

The AFC was
instituted in June 1918 as an award to officers and warrant officers for
courage or devotion to duty while flying, though not in active operations
against the enemy. It was not officially named (as other officer's medals).

During World
War I, approximately 680 were awarded. During World War II, approximately
2,000.

Generally
there are no citations in the London Gazette, although there can be indications
of the nature of the recipient's service which lead to the AFC being awarded.

Since 1993,
this medal can be awarded to all qualifying RAF ranks.

Distinguished
Flying Medal (DFM)

The DFM was
instituted together with the DFC in 1918, and was awarded to NCOs and
men for bravery whilst flying on operations against the enemy. All DFMs
were named with the recipient's details around the rim of the medal. The
World War One medals had the details impressed. The Second World War DFMs
had the details engraved.

During World
War I, approximately 105 DFMs were awarded, with 2 first award bars. During
World War II, approximately 6,000 DFMs were awarded, with 60 first award
bars and 2 second award bars.

All the DFM
awards are listed in the London Gazette. A few of the First World War
entries have a citation. The majority of Second World War DFM awards have
citations.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Distinguished Flying
Cross, which is now available to all ranks.

Air Force
Medal (AFM)

The AFM was
instituted, with the AFC, in June 1918, and was awarded to NCOs and men
for courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations
against the enemy. All AFMs are name: large capitals during World War
One or engraved during World War Two.

Approximately
120 AFMs and 2 bars were issued during World War One, and 259 AFMs issued
during World War Two.

The vast
majority of AFMs are listed in the London Gazette with no citation.

Following
the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Air Force Cross, which
is now available to all ranks.